Hey guys, I made a macramé mandala
with semicircles and here’s what I did.
I used this 4mm cord.
I used this ring that I got from Walmart.
I made 7 sets of semicircles to cover the ring.
Adjust the amount of sets
depending on the size of your ring.
For each set, I cut 1 cord at 30”,
3 cords at 34”,
and 1 cord at 18”.
You can cut them longer just to be safe.
Tie the 30” cord onto the ring,
using a lark’s head knot.
To do this, align the ends to find the center.
Then, place it over the ring,
bring the ends through the loop created and pull it tight.
To the left of it, tie one of the 34” cords
using a lark’s head knot.
But before pulling it tight,
create a 2” difference at the bottom.
The left cord should be 2” shorter than right cord.
Take the 2nd cord from left
and use that as your holding cord.
Bring it over the cord to the right of it
and make double half hitch knots
going toward the right.
To do this, make a number 4 with the left cord
over the holding cord.
Bring the end through the loop created
and do this twice.
Repeat this with the other cord.
Next, bring the cord that was used as the holding cord
over the ring and through the loop created.
Crossover the cord on the right.
Then, bring the cord under ring
and through the loop created.
It should look like a lark’s head knot.
On the left, tie another 34” cord with a lark’s head knot.
This time, create a 4” difference at the bottom.
The left cord should be 4” shorter than the right.
Again, use the 2nd cord from the left
as your holding cord.
Bring it over the cord to the right of it
and make double half hitch knots
going toward the right.
When you reach middle, you’ll notice a gap.
To fill the gap, tie the 18” cord to the holding cord
using a reverse lark's head knot,
also know as a cow hitch knot.
To do this, align the ends to find the center.
Then, place it under the holding cord,
bring the ends through the loop created,
and pull it tight.
Continue making double half hitch knots
going toward the right.
At the end of the arc, tie the holding cord to the ring
with a lark's head knot.
Then, on the left, tie the last 34” cord to the ring
using a lark's head knot.
This time, create a 6” difference at the bottom.
The left cord should be 6” shorter than the right.
Use the 2nd cord from the left as your holding cord
and make double half hitch knots
going toward the right.
At the end of the arc, tie the holding cord to the ring
using a lark's head knot.
It should look like this.
Then, make another set.
This is the pattern for where the 2 sets meet.
I used the 6 cords in the middle.
With the 2 center cords,
bring the left cord over the right cord.
Use this as your holding cord.
Take the now left cord
and make a double half hitch knots
going toward the right.
Take the 3rd cord from the left
and use that as your holding cord.
Bring it over the cord to the left of it
and make double half hitch knots going toward the left.
To do this, make a backwards 4 with the now right cord
over the holding cord.
Bring the end through the loop created
and do this twice.
I made a knot with the 2 middle cords.
It’s either called a Cross Knot or a Chinese Crown Knot.
To do this, make a u-shape with the right cord.
Bring the left cord over it and wrap it.
Then, bring the cord through the loop created.
Be sure to hold all the cords in place.
Next, tighten the top cord.
Insert it through the loop below and pull it tight.
Then, tighten the right cord.
This is another way to make this knot.
I learned this after I made my mandala
and this may be a simpler version.
Take the right cord and bring it over the left cord.
Wrap around the cord, ending back on the right side,
make a loop, and go back under the left cord.
Then, hold it in place.
Bring the bottom cord to the back
and through the top loop.
Then, bring the cord through the bottom loop
and tighten the cords.
Next, take the left cord that was used as a holding cord.
Continue to use it as the holding cord
and make double half hitch knots
going toward the right.
Stop when you reach the center.
Then, take the right cord
that was used as a holding cord.
Continue to use it as the holding cord
and make double half hitch knots going toward the left.
Stop when you reach the center.
With the 2 middle cords, make a double half hitch knot
going toward the left.
My shortest cord ended up being 1 3/4”.
I used the short side of a post it
as my guide to trim the cords.
Next, I combed the strands, a little at a time.
Then, I cut any long strands.
I decided to shorten the strands.
I added a nail in this gap.
If you want the semicircle at the top of your mandala,
I’d suggest adding the nail in the spot
where you added the cow hitch knot.
There should be a slight gap there.
After I hung the mandala, I pressed the strands down
and they seemed to stay in place.
You could also try using a fabric stiffener
to keep the ends in place
and here’s how it turned out.